Overview:
M23 says its objective is to fight corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the Democratic Republic of Congo’s political leadership. In early 2025, the group launched a rapid offensive across eastern Congo, capturing several key towns and heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.
March 23 Movement/Alliance River Congo rebels have finally admitted that their military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Willy Ngoma was killed.
Ngoma was killed by drone strike fired by Armed Forces of Democratic Republic of Congo soldiers and coalition around 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) in the coltan-mining town of Rubaya, Masisi territory, North Kivu province. The strike targeted a residential house at Kasuku Farm where he was staying.
Wazalendo (Patriots) a coalition of FARDC released a statement claiming responsibility saying that Ngoma was killed along side other M23/AFC rebels officials like cort chiefs of the rebellion’s governor for North Kivu province, Bahati Musanga Erasto, and Colonel Olivier Imani Nzenze while General Sultan Emmanuel Makenga fled to the Catholic parish of Mater Dei in Matanda.
Wazalendo’s spokesperson Jules Mulumba later claimed that Ngoma’s remains were collected and secretly buried in Rutshuru territory. Since the incident happened, M23/AFC remained mute about the matter until Sunday morning when their political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka released a statement dated February 28/2026 confirming that the drone strikes killed Ngoma.
Kanyuka accuses FARDC and coalition of deliberately violating the ceasefire and imposing a full-scale war deliberately targeting AFC/M23, soldiers and civilian populations through drone strikes carried out far from the front lines. Kanyuka says even after the killing of Ngoma on February 24, 2026 drone strikes continue to take the lives of many innocent compatriots.
Kanyuka says the crimes by FARDC and coalition will neither go unnoticed nor unpunished while the memory of the victims binds and engages M23/AFC collective responsibility. Kanyuka says that for several weeks, AFC/M23 has consistently denounced and alerted partners involved in the peace process about repeated ceasefire violations, as well as the massacres of civilians perpetrated by the Kinshasa regime in many densely populated areas of North and South Kivu.
He says that despite the consistency and gravity of these warnings, FARDC and coalition deliberately ignored, and continued revealing a blatant disregard for de-escalation efforts and for the protection of civilian populations. He adds that these crimes committed by FARDC and coalition will not go unpunished adding that the duty of M23/AFC is to ensure the protection of civilian populations and fighters across the entire liberated territory.
The M23/AFC statement reads: “The Alliance Fleuve Congo / Mouvement du 23 Mars (AFC/M23) informs the International and National community that the Kinshasa regime has deliberately violated the ceasefire and imposed a full-scale war on the AFC/M23, deliberately targeting our soldiers and civilian populations through drone strikes carried out far from the front lines. These flagrant violations have claimed the life of one of our senior officers of the Congolese Revolutionary Army (ARC), Colonel Willy Ngoma, who died on February 24, 2026, and continue to take the lives of many innocent compatriots. These crimes will neither go unnoticed nor unpunished. The memory of the victims binds us and engages our collective responsibility. These crimes will not go unpunished. Our duty is to ensure the protection of civilian populations and our soldiers across the entire liberated territory. We recall that for several weeks the AFC/M23 has consistently denounced and alerted partners involved in the peace process about repeated ceasefire violations, as well as the massacres of civilians perpetrated by the Kinshasa regime in numerous densely populated areas of North Kivu and South Kivu, notably in Kawele, Mweso, Rutigita, Kitazungura, Rugezi, Kitendebwa, Kashihe, Kiduveri, Rubaya, Rumbishi, Walikale, Masisi, Kalehe, Gasovu, Nkokwe, Gatoyi, Minembwe, Gasheke, Murema, Mberwa, Ruki, Mutobo, Nyaruhinga, Mulemumenene, Rutare, Kadasomwa, Nyagisozi, Nyabikeri, Kinyumba, Nyabyondo, Miyanja, Kasirosiro, Bunyantenge, and Misiya, as well as their surrounding areas. Despite the consistency and gravity of these warnings, they were deliberately ignored, revealing a blatant disregard for de-escalation efforts and for the protection of civilian populations. Regarding this generalized war imposed by Kinshasa, the AFC/M23 stands shoulder to shoulder with civilian populations, remains fully committed to the peace process, and reaffirms its determination to defend and protect civilians and their property.”
On Sunday at 10:16AM, Kanyuka released a fresh statement accusing FARDC and coalition of launching attacks in Kalingi Kakenke and its surroundings using Kamikaze drones. Kanyuka also claims that on Saturday evening at around 06:30PM, FARDC set fire to the village of Kalongi in Minembwe using drones.
Kanyuka says their forces remain fully mobilized and ready to defend and protect civilian populations, victims of a war imposed by the illegitimate Kinshasa regime, which has chosen terror over peace.
FARDC and coalition have not yet released a statement about latest cases of fighting. Humaninatarian situation is worrying in areas affected by hostilities with civilians fleeing their homes.On February 28,2026, Didier Bashizi, spokesperson of South Kivu province released a statement accusing M23/AFC rebels of being behind of two mass graves that were discovered in Kavinvira and Kilomoni neighborhoods of Uvira containing the bodies of 151 people on February 27,2026.
The renewed fighting raises questions about the future of ongoing peace talks reportedly taking place in Doha, Qatar, and whether they will yield positive results amid such escalating hostilities.
Since its resurgence in 2022 under leaders Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga, M23/AFC has repeatedly exchanged accusations with the Congolese government over ceasefire violations. The government has consistently accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, allegations denied by both Kigali and the group.
M23 says its objective is to fight corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the Democratic Republic of Congo’s political leadership. In early 2025, the group launched a rapid offensive across eastern Congo, capturing several key towns and heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.
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